Carson Bounds died in Carthage, Tunisia on January 30th, 1943. He was returning back to base after escorting P-39s when his plane was shot down behind enemy lines. The military used teeth charts to identify his body because he was missing two teeth. They also identified him based on his right clavicle, which had been broken before. Finally, four months after his death, his next of kin, George Bounds, was notified of his death via letter. He was identified on November 4th, 1944.
Confusion??
Carson was confused with another Lieutenant, Lt. Dise, that was shot down on February 2nd, 1943. Near Dise’s isolated grave was a crashed P40 with Dise’s serial number inscribed into it. This is how Bounds and Dise were separated and identified.
Burials
At first, Carson was buried in a temporary cemetery in Kairouen, Tunisia in grave 45, Row 5, Plot A. His father requested that Carson be interred in a permanent American military cemetery overseas in a request for disposition of remains. He was buried in Tunisia in the North Africa American Cemetery. He lays beside 2840 other soldiers from America. He is buried on Plot C Row 3 Grave 5.
Carson Bounds had a post named after him called the "Carson Bounds Veterans of Foreign Wars Post (VFW)." This Post was chartered with 23 members and was founded in Philadelphia, MS in 1945.
Honors
Carson Bounds received two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart. The Oak Leaf Clusters were awarded for displaying heroism in aerial combat with an enemy force. He received the Purple Heart for dying on combat during a battle. Over 60 years after his death, a bill was passed to name a designated section of Highway 16 in honor of Carson Bounds, named "Carson W. Bounds Memorial Highway."